WASHINGTON, May 27 Kyodo (EDS: UP...

WASHINGTON, May 27 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING POWELL'S TITLE, 3RD PARA)

The United States forward Tuesday poured cold water forward a new North Korean proposal throughout the format of talks in succession its nuclear program, saying any negotiation must be manner of lifeed in a multilateral framework.

North Korea issued a statement Saturday saying it is willing to include Japan and southern Korea in multilateral talks in succession its nuclear weapons program, if Pyongyang and Washington clutch bilateral talks first.

''We are still committed to multilateral talks, expanded multilateral talks, if there are going to be coming events talks the way we want to do it,'' U Secretary of State Colin Powell said when asked to remark on Pyongyang's initiative.

Elaborating forward Powell's comments, made to reporters after a meeting with Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher made it clear that Washington has no confidence working with Pyongyang in a bilateral setting.

''Given North Korea's history of noncompliance with bilateral agreements, single in such a multilateral proces -- where all explanation concerned parties are engaged -- can a lasting solution be establish to the problem pos by dint of North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons,'' Boucher said.

''North Korea's nuclear weapons program is a global concern'' he said.

China played innkeeper to three-way talks with the United States and North Korea in late April in trying to melt the standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

Tokyo and Seoul have skiped to participate in multilateral discussions nevertheless have been left out because of Pyongyang's opposition.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Kyodo just discovereds International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group